Robin Williams was, quite simply, a genius. He could go from side splitting comedy to high drama in one scene. He was the master of making us laugh while conveying serious emotions at the same time.
He is a great loss to film and comedy, and will be missed.
I'm not bothered, if that helps? He was one of those actors that just happened to be in films that I didn't watch. The only film I remember seeing him in was One Hour Photo, he was good in that but it wasn't a great film. And Night At the Museum
R.I.P anyway
At least we agree on something. It's sad for his family and friends, of course, but then every suicide from mental illness is equally sad and most people don't have Williams' resources to try and help combat it.
I watched 'Mork and Mindy' with my brother back in the day but I don't have fond memories of it at all. I really liked his role as the Genie in 'Aladdin' but that's about it. I found that a lot of his roles/films veered towards a sort of saccharin, syrupy, mawkish sentimentality that really isn't my cup of tea.
am still in shock, found out early this morning, R.I.P you funny man
well said, a friend of mine killed themselves last year, i was upset but not once did i think "oh how selfish of them"
How awful and sad TardisSteve. I know someone who died this way too, It's awful to think that the torture this illness is was so unbearable, that the person you cared about couldn't take it for a moment longer. Also that they feel like they are a burden, which is a huge weight to bear.
Not selfish at all, the furthest thing from selfish, just lonely, frightening and so sad.
Poor Robin Williams and his family.
First saw him in Mork and Mindy and followed him ever since. Birdcage was excellent and Good Will Hunting is one of my all time favourites.
Perhaps one of the very few actors that was a true genius.
I think its about broadening the understanding of a condition where there can be a social stigma attached or at the least a confusion over what it is. Clinical depression is very different to feeling a bit depressed and it does not care if you are rich or poor, successful or not - it can strike anyone.
R.I.P. Robin.
It certainly can. Depression is something that can be truly overwhelming. You feel worthless and a burden to others; and you can be wealthy, sucessful, loved, etc; it is still no guarantee that depression won't strike. I've been there. I've had friends who've been there. It's not something to be taken lightly, nor sneered at, nor belittled by people who (a) know nothing about it and (b) can't be bothered to do a little research - just to ensure that you're not being insulting and crass about something thata affects a lot of people in all walks of life.
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People with depression don't generally talk about it. It's not like saying 'I'm depressed' or 'I'm sad'. Seriously, before you make such statements do a little research - or don't you believe in knowing what you're talking about before you open your mouth (or start typing)?
I think the clue here in the content of your post-is the content of your post.
Precisely.
I am so, so sorry that Robin has gone and especially in this way. I could say more; but anything I express would be trite compared to the heartache his family and friends are suffering at the moment. Thank you, Mr Williams, for giving us so many amazing memories. RIP.
First saw him in Mork and Mindy and followed him ever since. Birdcage was excellent and Good Will Hunting is one of my all time favourites.
Perhaps one of the very few actors that was a true genius.
I can remember when he made his first appearance as Mork on Happy days before Mork and Mindy !!
Really? Why? Unless you're a medical professional or personally affected by it, I don't see why one would bother researching obscure illnesses. Surely people have better things to do with their time?
It's hardly obscure. The constant equation of depression with "feeling blue" is a gross misunderstanding that leads to comments such as "what did he have to be depressed about, he had all the money in the world etc." Nobody would ever look at somebody suffering from cancer and say "hey, I threw up after a night out last weekend so why are you complaining about your chemo?"
It's hardly obscure. The constant equation of depression with "feeling blue" is a gross misunderstanding that leads to comments such as "what did he have to be depressed about, he had all the money in the world etc." Nobody would ever look at somebody suffering from cancer and say "hey, I threw up after a night out last weekend so why are you complaining about your chemo?"
Because there isn't a stigma in this country attached to having cancer like there is with mental illness
Theres a big thread in the showbiz section for this. Anyways RIP to Robin Williams depression isnt pleasant and clearly it got to much for him and wanted out. I hope hes in better place now. Always rememberh im in Mrs Doubtfire he acted out that character amazingly
he flourished where the format made allowance for his particular style. if not the result could be a mismatch. but i dont think any of his films are turkeys. some are brilliant. even the poorer ones are worth watching .......
a genius, yes, but also highly manic. if youve ever seen him interviewed on tv chat shows ...... some of the raw energy that helped to fuel his genius was probably uppers and downers .....
Asphyxiation was mentioned in the first reports, aye aye we thought , it's the Michael Hutchence did-he-or-didn't-he-mean-to-while-having-a-quick-one-off-the-wrist scenario ?
He had been suffering from serious depression for sometime and it appears he finally succumbed to its influence.
I remember watching him as far back the early seventies in Mork and Mindy; one of my favourite shows from that period, but like its counterpart, Happy Days, it stayed too long and by the fourth series, when the titular characters married, it had finally (ironically, it might appear) "Jumped the Shark." It was Williams's refreshingly different comedic style that was to propel him into his career, filled with reverence and respect for his art.
My favourite of his movies were Mrs Doubtfire, The Birdcage, Jumanji and Good Morning Vietnam, but most of all was his portrayal of Andrew, the eternal android, in Bicentennial Man, based on Isaac Asimov's "The Positronic Man." Oddly enough I didn't like the book very much at all, but when I saw the movie, Williams's performance, coupled with Chris Colombus's direction, made me see the story in a different light. A very large proportion of Williams's career was partnered with Colombus's and I think both of their careers benefited from their collaboration.
Robin Williams will be sadly missed, can't say I was a fan of all his movies, preferred his more serious/darker roles. Garp, Vietnam, Insomnia spring to mind.
An excellent stand-up comic too R.I.P.
It certainly can. Depression is something that can be truly overwhelming. You feel worthless and a burden to others; and you can be wealthy, sucessful, loved, etc; it is still no guarantee that depression won't strike. I've been there. I've had friends who've been there. It's not something to be taken lightly, nor sneered at, nor belittled by people who (a) know nothing about it and (b) can't be bothered to do a little research - just to ensure that you're not being insulting and crass about something thata affects a lot of people in all walks of life.
People with depression don't generally talk about it. It's not like saying 'I'm depressed' or 'I'm sad'. Seriously, before you make such statements do a little research - or don't you believe in knowing what you're talking about before you open your mouth (or start typing)?
Precisely.
I am so, so sorry that Robin has gone and especially in this way. I could say more; but anything I express would be trite compared to the heartache his family and friends are suffering at the moment. Thank you, Mr Williams, for giving us so many amazing memories. RIP.
Comments
He is a great loss to film and comedy, and will be missed.
"Oh captain, my captain" RIP
At least we agree on something. It's sad for his family and friends, of course, but then every suicide from mental illness is equally sad and most people don't have Williams' resources to try and help combat it.
I watched 'Mork and Mindy' with my brother back in the day but I don't have fond memories of it at all. I really liked his role as the Genie in 'Aladdin' but that's about it. I found that a lot of his roles/films veered towards a sort of saccharin, syrupy, mawkish sentimentality that really isn't my cup of tea.
My thoughts exactly.
In the end the disease killed him.
How awful and sad TardisSteve. I know someone who died this way too, It's awful to think that the torture this illness is was so unbearable, that the person you cared about couldn't take it for a moment longer. Also that they feel like they are a burden, which is a huge weight to bear.
Not selfish at all, the furthest thing from selfish, just lonely, frightening and so sad.
Poor Robin Williams and his family.
R I P
Perhaps one of the very few actors that was a true genius.
It certainly can. Depression is something that can be truly overwhelming. You feel worthless and a burden to others; and you can be wealthy, sucessful, loved, etc; it is still no guarantee that depression won't strike. I've been there. I've had friends who've been there. It's not something to be taken lightly, nor sneered at, nor belittled by people who (a) know nothing about it and (b) can't be bothered to do a little research - just to ensure that you're not being insulting and crass about something thata affects a lot of people in all walks of life.
removed
People with depression don't generally talk about it. It's not like saying 'I'm depressed' or 'I'm sad'. Seriously, before you make such statements do a little research - or don't you believe in knowing what you're talking about before you open your mouth (or start typing)?
Precisely.
I am so, so sorry that Robin has gone and especially in this way. I could say more; but anything I express would be trite compared to the heartache his family and friends are suffering at the moment. Thank you, Mr Williams, for giving us so many amazing memories. RIP.
I can remember when he made his first appearance as Mork on Happy days before Mork and Mindy !!
It's hardly obscure. The constant equation of depression with "feeling blue" is a gross misunderstanding that leads to comments such as "what did he have to be depressed about, he had all the money in the world etc." Nobody would ever look at somebody suffering from cancer and say "hey, I threw up after a night out last weekend so why are you complaining about your chemo?"
Because there isn't a stigma in this country attached to having cancer like there is with mental illness
a genius, yes, but also highly manic. if youve ever seen him interviewed on tv chat shows ...... some of the raw energy that helped to fuel his genius was probably uppers and downers .....
but irreplacable. will be missed. rip.
I'm genuinely gutted, loved his films and he was a genius and will be missed. RIP.
Doesn't matter if you're famous with lots of money, you can still suffer from depression.
Ahem...
There is still a lot of education needed about mental illness.
Maybe he couldn't seize the day.
I doubt all those drugs and hyperactivity helped.
I remember watching him as far back the early seventies in Mork and Mindy; one of my favourite shows from that period, but like its counterpart, Happy Days, it stayed too long and by the fourth series, when the titular characters married, it had finally (ironically, it might appear) "Jumped the Shark." It was Williams's refreshingly different comedic style that was to propel him into his career, filled with reverence and respect for his art.
My favourite of his movies were Mrs Doubtfire, The Birdcage, Jumanji and Good Morning Vietnam, but most of all was his portrayal of Andrew, the eternal android, in Bicentennial Man, based on Isaac Asimov's "The Positronic Man." Oddly enough I didn't like the book very much at all, but when I saw the movie, Williams's performance, coupled with Chris Colombus's direction, made me see the story in a different light. A very large proportion of Williams's career was partnered with Colombus's and I think both of their careers benefited from their collaboration.
We will miss him dearly.
Tears of the clown.
An excellent stand-up comic too R.I.P.
Well said.